Pressurized container with non-rigid follower

ABSTRACT

IN A CONTAINER FOR A FLOWABLE PRODUCT WHICH IS DISPENSED THROUGH AN OUTLET IN THE CONTAINER CONTROLLED BY A VALVE OR CLOSURE, A PLURALITY OF EXPANSIBLE CHAMBERS OR COMPARTMENTS SERIALLY ARRANGED AND SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER BY DISRUPTABLE PARTITIONS. ONE COMPARTMENT HAS A PRESSURE GENERATING AGENT WHICH, THROUGH THE ADDITION OF A DELAYING AGENT, BEGINS TO GENERATE PRESSURE IN THE COMPARTMENT AFTER THE CONTAINER IS ASSEMBLED AND CHARGED WITH THE PRODUCT TO BE DISPENSED. THE GENERATED PRESSURE CASUES THE COMPARTMENT TO EXPAND AND FORCE THE PRODUCT OUT OF THE CONTAINER THROUGH THE OUTLET OF THE CONTAINER, WHEN THE VALVE OF THE CONTAINER IS OPENED. EXPANSION OF THE COMPARTMENT ALSO DISRUPTS THE ASSOCIATED PARTITION TO PLACE THE ADJACENT COMPARTMENT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE FIRST COMPARTMENT. CHEMICAL REAGENT IN THE SECOND COMPARTMENT REACTS WITH OR IS ACTIVATED BY THE PRESSURE GENERATING SUBSTANCE IN THE FIRST COMPARTMENT TO FURTHER GENERATE GAS CAUSING CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE COMPARTMENTS FOR DISPENSING THE PRODUCT UNDER PRESSURE. THIS EXPANSION OF THE COMPARTMENT IN TURN DISRUPTS A SECOND PARTITION TO COMMUNICATE A THIRD COMPARTMENT TO ACTIVATE A CHEMICAL REAGENT IN THE THIRD COMPARTMENT TO FURTHER GENERATE GAS AND PRESSURE FOR DISPENSING THE PRODUCT IN THE SAME MANNER. OTHER FEATURES AND EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION WILL APPEAR SUBSEQUENTLY IN THE SPECIFICATION AND DRAWINGS.

Feb. 27, 1973 E, M REYNER ET AL.

PRESSURIZED CONTAINER WITH NON-RIGID FOLLOWER 4 Sheets-Sheet l FiledDec.

INVENTORS ELLIS M REYNER MARGARET E. REYNER Feb. 27, 1973 E. M. REYNERET AL 3,718,235

PRESSURIZED CONTAINER WITH NON-RIGID FOLLOWER Filed Dec. 4, 1969 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ELLIS M. REYNER MARGARET E. REYNER ATTORNE ,3

Feb. 27, 1973 E. M. REYNER ET AL 3,718,236

PRESSURIZED CONTAINER WITH NONRTGTD FOLLOWEI':

4 Sheets-Sheet L Filed Dec. 4, 1969 United States Patent O 3,718,236PRESSURIZED CONTAINER WITH NON-RIGID FOLLOWER Ellis M. Reyner, NewBrunswick, N.J., and Margaret E. Reyner, 1050 George St., New Brunswick,NJ. 08901; said Ellis M. Reyner assignor to said Margaret E. ReynerFiled Dec. 4, 1969, Ser. No. 882,034 Int. Cl. B67d /42 US. Cl. ZZZ-386.530 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a container for a fiowableproduct which is dispensed through an outlet in the container controlledby a valve or closure, a plurality of expansible chambers orcompartments serially arranged and separated from each other bydisruptable partitions. One compartment has a pressure generating agentwhich, through the addition of a delaying agent, begins to generatepressure in the compartment after the container is assembled and chargedwith the product to be dispensed. The generated pressure causes thecompartment to expand and force the product out of the container throughthe outlet of the container, when the valve of the container is opened.Expansion of the compartment also disrupts the associated partitiontoplace the adjacent compartment in communication with the firstcompartment. Chemical reagent in the second compartment reacts with oris activated by the pressure generating substance in the firstcompartment to further generate gas causing continued expansion of thecompartments for dispensing the product under pressure. This expansionof the compartment in turn disrupts a second partition to communicate athird compartment to activate a chemical reagent in the thirdcompartment to further generate gas and pressure for dispensing theproduct in the same manner. Other features and embodiments of theinvention will appear subsequently in the specification and drawings.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION AND OBJECTS The present invention relates toimprovements in pressurized containers for dispensing fiowable productssuch as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,178,075.

A common problem with conventional pressurized containers in many cases,is that it is difiicult to dispense the entire contents of the containerbecause the pressure employed for dispensing the product is dissipatedprematurely. This often frustrates the user of the container andmoreover results in product waste.

The present invention seeks to overcome the above problem by insuring asufiicient and continuing supply of pressure which will allow thecontainer to be adequately and satisfactorily emptied of its contentsthrough pressurization without exceeding predetermined maximum andminimum pressure level limits.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such an improvedpressurized container which may b economically manufactured and soldcommercially at competitive prices. Included herein is such a containerwhich may be employed in connection with various container designs andshapes and also various substances and products to be dispensed from thecontainer.

A still further object is to provide improved bag enclosures that may beemployed in a pressurized container to contain either the product to bedispensed or the pressure agent used for expelling the product from thecontainer. Included herein is a provision of novel containers as well asattachment methods and devices for attaching such bag-like enclosures inthe containers.

Yet another object is to provide a novel method and ap- 3,718,236Patented Feb. 27, 1973 paratus for charging a container with apropellant used to expel the product from the container upon opening ofan outlet valve in the mouth of the container.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a newmethod and structure for preventing a propellant containing bag fromblocking otf the product flow passage in the container leading to theoutlet of the container. Included herein is the provision of a novelcontainer outlet which insures that the bag, upon expansion, will notblock oif flow of the product through the container outlet.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide improvedcontainer construction which not only facilitates charging the containerwith the product as well as the propellant, but which also insures thatan internally included bag which contains the propellant will not blockoil? passage of product through the outlet of the contamer.

Other objects and the precise nature of the present invention willbecome evident from the following description and accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a pressurized container includingan internal bag-like enclosure constructed according to the presentinvention and showing the container in condition for initial operation;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the pressurized container of FIG.1 except illustrating the valve in open positionand the bag-likeenclosure partially inflated for dispensing the product;

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a modified bagconstruction in the container;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of another modified bag containerconstruction in the container;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of yet another modified bagconstruction in the container;

FIG. 6 is a vertical, sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention disclosing a means for attaching a bag-like enclosurecontaining a propellant to the inner Wall portion of a container;

FIG. 7 is a vertical, sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention illustrating a different shape for a bag-like enclosure whichcontains the propellant for discharging the product and also anothermethod of attaching the bag-like enclosure to the container:

FIG. 8 is a vertical, sectional view of a still further embodiment ofthe invention wherein the bag enclosure Which contains the propellant,is free floating in the container and charged with an improvedpropellant;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a still further embodiment of theinvention incorporating an internal flow control element for insuringthat the propellant-containing bag does not block oil flow of theproduct at the mouth or outlet of the container;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the internal flow control element included inthe embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11 through 14, inclusive, are vertical sectional views showingvarious container constructions and shapes which may be employed incarrying out the invention;

FIG. 15 is a vertical, sectional view of still another embodiment of theinvention illustrating a dip tube which leads along the internal wall ofthe container to the mouth or outlet thereof and wherein the propellantcontaining bag is attached to the bottom of the container;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an outlet attachment or fixturewhich may be employed in pressurized containers to insure that thepropellant containing bag in the container does not seal off the outletpassage of the container; 7

FIG. 17 is a vertical, sectional View of another container illustratingan internal ridge along the container for preventing blockage of theproduct fiowpaths to the mouth of the container; and

FIGS. 18 and 19 are partial longitudinal cross-sectional .viewsillustrating further modifications of the dispenser .shown in FIG. 1.

The illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1 comprises a cylindrical containerhaving a cap or top wall 14 and a bottom wall 12. Cap 14 has a threadedneck 15 with inwardly projecting flanges 17, 29 and a centrally disposedvalve seat 18 having an axial bore 20. A cover 21 having a centralopening 23 therethrough threadedly engages neck 15. Within bore 20,opening 23, and flanges 17 and 29 is a valve 16 resiliently mounted bymeans of a spring 24 which cooperates with flanges 17 and 29. Valve 16has a stem 22 with opening 19 in the lower end thereof. Stem 22 projectsupwardly through the bore of the valve seat 18 and is secured to a knobor 1 flowable materialP to be dispensed. Bore 26 is in communicationwith tube 34 by means of openings 19 when knob 28 is depressed. Dip tube34 can be-of variable dimensions, shape and also perforated Pressure fordispensing contents P from the container is achieved through sealedexpansible chambers shown as being formed by a pouch or bag-likeenclosure 40 received in the container. Bag 40 is made expansible eitherbecause of its elastic nature or by unfolding it from a collapsed ordeflated condition represented in FIG. 1. Also bag 40 is made ofsuitable sizeand shape such that when inflated, it will completely linethe interior walls of the' container.

Positioned along the side of the container are one or more siphons orconductor tubes 38 which may be of varying dimensions and shapes andalso perforated. Tubes 38 prevent the product P from being sealed offdue to the receptacle or bag 40 expanding as will be explainedhereinafter. The function of the siphons may be accomplished by meansof, one or more elongated ridges or grooves formed in the internalsurface of the container I wall to extend between the bottom and topwalls of the container to allow the contents to move freely within -thecontainer, and insure the flow of theproductP to the container outlet,namely valve 16, even though bag 40 is, inflated.

In the embodiment of 'FIG. 1, assuming that a commercial 16 oz. sizeaerosol type container is used, and that 15% of its capacity is allowedfor head-space, and taking into consideration the solubility of thegenerated gas in the contents of the bag 40, said bag 40 has threepartitions, S-l, S-2, and S-3 forming chambers A-l, A-2, A-3 and A-4.Inone form of the invention chamber A-l at the bottom contains: (a) Wfl. oz. of water designated in the drawings as W; (b) C gms. ofanhydrous citric acid; and (c) a certain amount of gms. of sodiumbicarbonate mixed in the water W. By means of a delaying process, thesesubstances are prevented from reacting chemically to generate gas untilthe container is fully assembled and sealed. Chamber A-2 contains C-2gms. of sodium bicarbonate, chamber A-3 contains C-3 gms. of sodiumbicarbonate, and chamber A 4 contains 04 gms. of sodium bicarbonate. Theproduct P for example may be salad oil to be discharged at roomtemperature (about C.).

After the container is fully assembled and sealed, and after thepredetermined time for delaying the chemical reaction has elapsed, thechemical reaction in chamber A-l will start and the generated carbondioxide gas inflates the bag and forces the product P to be dischargedout of the container when the valve 16 is in an open position. When apredetermined amount of product P has been discharged, there will besufficient room for chamber A-1 to expand and reach its scheduledexpansion of say about 26% of the container capacity. Further when moreof product P is discharged and more room becomes available for continuedexpansion of bag 40, partition S-1 will open or separate, and gas fromchamber A-1 will flow into chamber A-2. The chemical reagent in chamberA-2 will become available and reacts with part of the original contentof chamber A-1 and produce more gas. The merger of chambers A-1 and A-2will allow bag 40 to reach its scheduled expansion of say about 46% ofthe container capacity, when enough of product P is discharged. In FIG.2 the bag 40 is shown as having beenpartly expanded and with partitionS-l opened or separated to communicate chamber A1 with chamber A-2.

In the same manner chamber A-3which contains C- -3 gms. of sodiumbicarbonate will merge with chambers A-1 and A2, partition S-2 will openand this fresh quantity of sodium bicarbonate will react with the excessof citric acid solution from chamber A-1 and produce more gas. Bag 40will expand further to reach its scheduled expansion of say about of thecapacity of the container.

Meanwhile the product P is being discharged progressively out of thecontainer and it follows that chamber A-4 which contains 04 gms. ofsodium bicarbonate will eventually merge with chambers A-l, A-2 and A-3when partition 5-3 is forced open, and this fresh quantity of sodiumbicarbonate will react with what is left of the citric acid in thesolution and produce more gas Accordingly, bag 40 will expand tocompletely occupy the available space inside the container 10 after itscontents have been fully discharged.

Partitions S-l, S-2 and S-3 are disrupted one at'a time while the bag isprogressively expanding, but the sealed sides of the bag remain intactbecause they are made to support a greater amount ofpressure than thepartitions. The partitions may be made in various ways against theproduct P (say about 70 to 40 p.s.i.g. in this particular case). Thedata will vary however, as the temperature varies. The solubility ofcarbon dioxide gas in water changes according to temperature andpressure and the quantity of solvent present.

The modification of FIG. 3 shows dispenser '10 with a valve 16, a knob28, and a siphon 38 similar to that shown in FIG. 1. The internalsurface at upper portion I of bag is lined with an inert binding agentand within this upper portion of the bag is a mixture of chemicalreagents. The other or lower portion 0 of bag-40 contains the liquidmedium. These chemical reagents in the presence of the reaction mediumare capable of reacting together and liberating gas. By means of adelaying process, the chemical reagents are prevented from reactinguntil the package is fully assembled and sealed. In a fully assembledpackage, gas is generated inside the bag and exerts pressure whichfacilitates the discharge of the product when the valve is in an openposition. The space inthe container vacated by the discharged productbecomes available to be occupied by the inflating bag. In the inflationprocess of the bag, its adhering inside surfaces are pushed apart fromeach other and a fresh quantity of chemical reagent means become exposedand react to produce more gas, with the result that there will always hecontinued pressure sufficient to facilitate the expulsion of the entireproduct from the container in a desirable pattern. This in effect isanother form of and functions as a multi-chambered bag. It ispartitioned by the adherence together of its inner surfaces by means ofan inert adhesive, heat seal or other suitable means. As in the FIG. 1embodiment, the size and flexibility of the bag in the FIG. 2 embodimentis such that the bag will completely line the interior wall of thecontainer after the container contents have been completely discharged.

The illustrative embodiment of FIG. 4 shows product P inside bag 40,which discharges its contents into the intake part of valve 16. Valve 16is connected with the open end of bag 40 in such a manner that itfunctions as its closure and the product P flows away from the valvewhen the package is in a resting position. Dip tube 34, which issuitably shaped, dimensioned, and perforated, is connected to the valveseat 18 and extends away from the latter to the opposite end of bag 40.In FIG. 1. embodiment, bore 20 is in communication with dip tube 34 bymeans of openings 19 when knob 28 is depressed. When full, bag 40extends in close relation along the internal surface of container withan intermediate peripheral portion of the bag in sealing engagement at Bwith an intermediate peripheral surface of the container. Thus twoseparate chambers T and L are formed between bag 40 and the containersidewalls on the opposite sides of the peripheral seal B between the bagand the container. Peripheral seal B may be formed by a suitableadhesive or any other means which is disruptable upon a predeterminedpressure. Chamber L in one embodiment may contain specific quantities ofwater, citric acid, and sodium bicarbonate, which by means of a delayingprocess are prevented from reacting until the package is fully assembledand sealed. Chamber T may contain a specific quantity of sodiumbicarbonate in a suitable form. These substances in chambers T and L areinitially sealed off from each other by means of seal B.

After the container is assembled and sealed and at the conclusion of thedelaying process, the chemicals in chamber L will react and producecarbon dioxide gas, which presses against bag 40 for dispensing theproduct P out of the container in a desirable pattern when the valve isopened. Due to the discharge of the product, bag 40, being underpressure collapses inwardly to eventually break or disrupt seal Bwhereupon chambers T and L communicate and their chemicals react togenerate more gas in the container externally of the bag 40 fordispensing. Accordingly, due to the generation of gas in situ, which ismaintained inside the container, and the predetermined amounts of thechemical reagents used, there will always be sufiicient pressure againstthe bag to discharge the produt out of the container in a desiredpattern.

The pressure sensitive inert adhesive B may be replaced by an equivalentsealing means which is rupturable or separable upon a predeterminedpressure.

As a modification (not shown) of the embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, theupper wall of the bag 40 may be omitted and the upper end of the bag 40can be directly connected to cap 14 or to the internal upper end of thecontainer body instead of to the valve assembly as'shown in FIG. 4.Although not shown it will be understood that any other suitable valveor closure arrangement may be used in connection with the embodiment ofFIG. 4 as well as the other embodiments disclosed herein.

The illustrative embodiment of FIG. 5 shows a novel outlet which may beemployed in connection with any of the embodiments described here. Agroove 138 of suitable dimensions and shape is formed in the internalsurface of the container, replaces siphon 38 shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 1 and performs its functions. The container 110 is first filledwith the product P such as mayonnaise, except for a head space, and aspace to crimp on a bottom 114 which has attached thereto a flexible bag140 of suitable material, size and shape to be placed inside thecontainer. The product P, in this particulas case, fiows away from valve16 when the container is in a resting position. An outer zone 0 of bag140 is charged with factor C-1 under a suitable pressure (as for example50 p.s.i.g.).

Bag 140 extends as a tube 142 closed at its free end and is suitablyattached and fixed at its lower open end between the edges of thecontainer body 110, and those of the container bottom |114. Anothersuitable method of attachment employed when bag 140 extends as a tube142 closed at its free end, is to attach the lower opened portions ofthe bag to the lower internal sidewall of the container body 110. Othersuitable means of attachment of the bag to the container are alsopossible.

Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3, bag 140 may be disposed in the formof a number of contacting angular folds as shown in FIG. 5, or as analternative (not shown) the bag may be rolled in coils. Material C whichis placed in zone I within the fold of the bag together with factor C1Which is placed in zone 0 may comprise anhydrous citric acid, anhydroussodium bicarbonate, an inert adhesive, water, and compressed gas. Whenmaterial C in the zone I is compounded to include for instance anadhesive and the sodium bicarbonate, factor C-l in the zone 0 will becomposed of the balance of the material mentioned above, namely, citricacid, water and compressed gas. On the other hand if C is compoundedwith the adhesive, anhydrous sodium bicarbonate and anhydrous citricacid, factor C-l may be composed of only water and compressed gas. Bythe same token if material C in zone I is compounded with an inertadhesive, anhydrous sodium bicarbonate, and anhydrous citric acid andwater in the outer zone 0, factor C-1 may merely be compressed gas whichmay be introduced into zone 0 of the bag 140 by any suitable means. Bymeans of a delaying process, the chemical reagents are prevented fromreacting until the package is assembled and sealed.

In its initial state represented in FIG. 5, bag 140 is collapsed orfolded with its internal surfaces in zone I 'in bonding engagement.After pressure is generated in zone 0 and by opening valve 16, a portionof the product is discharged, the space evacuated by the dispensedportion of the product allows bag 140 to expand or inflate starting atzone 0 and continuing into zone I with the result that a fresh quantityof the chemical reagents will be exposed and react to produce more gaswhich maintains the pressure in the container at desirable maximum andminimum levels. This generation of gas will provide continued pressureagainst the product P for discharging it out of the container when thevalve is opened. After the entire contents have been discharged from thecontainer, the bag will completely line the interior surface of thecontainer as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3.

The apparatus in FIG. 5 isadditionally useful in that it can beassembled under pressure While introducing factor C-l into the bag 140and then closing it by means of seaming the can bottom 114 on thecontainer side walls. In this manner the pressure serves to temporarilymaintain the bag collapsed in case it contains some trapped atmosphericair, and also as a temporary closure until the permanent closure 114 isfixed on the container. Introducing factor C-1 into bag 140 can beconveniently done by other means such as forcing it into the bag througha valve or opening (not Shown) in the side of the container which can bemechanically plugged afterwards.

Bag 140 may also be constructed with single or multiple chambers. Alsoand although not shown, valve 16 may be mounted in the container sidetoward which the product P flows when the container is in a restingposition. Bag 140 may terminate suitably in a tube 142 and with its openend attached and fixed between the edges of the container body and thoseof the intainer side other than the side in which the valve 16 ismounted. In another modification (not shown), the open end of the bagmay be fixed around a valve inlet or around an opening that can bemechanically plugged.

Among the delaying processes which may be employed to delay for apredetermined period of time the chemical reaction such as that ofsodium bicarbonate and the citric closed inside a sealed glass capsulewhich will break upon increasing or decreasing the internal pressure inthe container. When the capsule is broken, the chemical reagent will beliberated and react with its surroundings and produce gas. Anotheralternative is to enclose the chemical reagent inside a small vial, theneck of which is closed by a suitable open valve attached to a dip tubeand plugged with a viscous material suchas petrolatum, which flows awayupon increasing or decreasing the internal pressure in the container.Upon opening the container outlet, the pressure imbalance in thesmallvial and the container urges the chemical means to communicate and reactwith each other and produce gas. A further alternative is to enclose thechemical reagent means inside a small vial plugged with a hard brittle(fragile) material, which breaks upon increasing or decreasing theinternal'pressure in the container, which condition allows the chemicalmeans to communicate and react with each other and produce gas. In yetanother alternative, the delaying means can be a plug which closes thevial. The vial conadding the water or the liquid medium in a frozenstate.

The reaction will be activated at a suitable temperature upon theliquification of the frozen medium.

(3) Dividing chamber A-1 in FIG. 1 into two separate sections by meansof a partition similar to 8-1. One section, say the bottom section, isto contain chemical means C, namely, water, citirc acid and a certainamount of gas or atmospheric air. The upper section of chamber A-l is tocontain chemical means say C-l, namely, sodium bicarbonate in anysuitable form such as powder, tablets or solution and its atmosphericair content is purged before it is sealed. The container is furtherprocessed and completely assembled and sealed. It is a common practiceto leave in the filled containers a head space of some 10 to '15% oftheir capacity. This space is normally left product-free and solelyoccupied by atmospheric air or any other gas. When this atmospheric airor gas is purged or sucked out through the valve 16, a considerable dropin the internal'pressure of the container will result. The air containedin the lower section of the bag (A-l) will expand and force open thepartition separating it from the upper section of chamber A-1. This willbring the sodium bicarbonate which is lodged in the upper section ofchamber A-1 together with the c'itirc acid solution lodged in the lowersection of chamber A1, and their reaction will generate gas. Thelocations of these chemical reagents may suitably be interchanged. Otheralternatives are also possible. By initially excluding from the package,the means necesary to bring about the chemical reaction, and introducingit into the package after it is assembled and sealed, gas may thus begenerated to force the product out of the container when the valve isopened.

(4) Introducing into the assembled package, some missing factor whichcan start the chemical reaction which will eventually generate gas. Thisis explained above in connection with the FIG. 5 embodiment. The factorthat starts the chemical reaction introduced into the container is oneor an aggregate of the following: chemical reagents, compressed gas ormere compression. In other words this factor can be of a physical or achemical-nature or both.

i (5) Assembling a part or the whole package under pressure. Other meansfor delaying the chemical reaction may be suitably devised to carry outthe invention.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that there has beendevised an inexpensive yet efiicient pressurized container in which gasis produced in situ and used as a propellant to elfect an efiicientexpulsion of the product from the container.

Moreover, it is evident that the container need not be excessively, asin conventional containers, pressurized to make certain that there willbe adequate pressure available for expulsion of the entire product. Withthe present invention, there is a continuous gas pressure devel- 'opeddue to the fact that as the product is discharged,

more carbon dioxide is liberated from the interaction of the acid andbicarbonate which maintains the pressure within predetermined desirablemaximum and minium pressure levels.

Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Forexample, other solids or liquids and other chemicals may be employed ifdesired. Chemical reagents which react and generate gas other thancarbon dioxide, or generate a mixture of gases may also be used in thecontainer to produce pressure. The chemical means used, represented by Cor c and C1'may also include other materials which serve some otheruseful purposes, such as catalytic agents, surface active agents,anti-freeze, or others. The gas is to beretained inside the containerthroughout its useful life. In addition, it will be evident to thoseskilled in the art that other valve and actuator means may be employedto release the product from the container such as shown for example inUS. Pat. No. 2,671,578.

The bag of the present invention may also be designed to includesuitable extensions to facilitate filling it or connecting it. The bagis made of any convenientimpervious or non-impervious flexible orstretchable material among, which are plastic-like polyethylene andrubber, metallic foils, specially treated fabrics or laminated multifilmmaterials. Multiple bags may conveniently be used in a container inorder to fulfill specific aims. In all forms of var iations of theseapparatuses formations involving the bag, the modifications are those:that the bagis constructed of a single or multiple chamber(compartments), and when fully inflated and unobstructed, it displacesthe product and occupies almost all the available space in thecontainer. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the outercontainer may be of suitable flexible or non-flexible materials such asglass, plastic, metal, cardboard, insulating materials and others or'acombination of materials. The container may also be of various shapesand sizes.

It will also be evident to those skilled in the art that the generationof gas or pressure may be'accomplished by means other than the chemicalreactions described above- Referring now to FIGS; 18 and 19, there isshown two different modifications of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 whichmodifications employ flexible bag-like enclosures located one within theother to define three pressure generating chambers A-l, A-,-2 and A-3.These chambers may be charged with the same pressure generatingsubstances, suchas C, C-1 and C-2 and W, described above. Upon thesequential generation of a suflicient pressure differential across thewalls of these enclosures, the latter gagement with the lower portionsof the cylindrical sidewall, and a top wall 204 similarlyconnected tothe sidewall 200. An outlet 205 is provided in the top wall to receive asuitable valve (not shown). In the container is a flexible bag-likeenclosure 206 having an open end 207 which is secured to the sidewall bymeans of a clip 208 or any other suitable device. The closed end 209 ofthe bag is on the side of the clip leading towards outlet 205 of thecontainer.

To facilitate the How to and communication of the product with outlet205 of the contatiner, a siphon 210 or dip tube 212 attached to theintake of the valve is provided along the internal side wall of thecontainer, the upper ends of which lead into outlet 205 of thecontainer, Both siphon 210 and dip tube 212 are open at opposite endsand also are perforated along their lengths, as shown in the drawings.The container is loaded and the product is placed in the space betweenthe outlet 205 and the bag 206. A suitable valve (not shown) is fixed onoutlet 205. A suitable propellant means is introduced in the spacebetween the container bottom 202 and the bag 206 through aperture 214 inbottom wall 202, which aperture is thereafter plugged with a suitableclosure 216. Said pressure means presses against the product anddischarges it thereof when the valve is in an open position.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention similar to FIG. 6.However, in the present embodiment, the bag 220 has a narrow open neckportion 222 which is attached to the bottom wall 224 of the containerrather than to the side wall as in the FIG. 6 embodiment. Bag 220 ischarged through a passage 226 in the bottom wall which directlycommunicates with the neck 222 of the bag and which is suitably pluggedby a closure 228 after the bag is charged with the propellant means.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated another embodiment of theinvention incorporating a free floating bag 230 for containing thepropellant means. The cylindrical sidewall, top and bottom walls of thecontainer may be the same as those described in the FIGS. 6 and 7embodiments. However, in the present embodiment, bag 230 is not attachedto any portion of the container but rather is free to move in alldirections. In accordance With another novel aspect of the presentinvention, bag 230 is filled with a propellant having a boiling point ofunder Fahrenheit. Bag 230 is charged with this propellant prior toinserting the bag in the container. After the bag is chilled below 0 F.and inserted into the container, the top and bottom walls of thecontainer are seamed on, and when the valve (not shown) in the outlet212 is open under normal temperature and pressure, the propellant willexert enough pressure on the product to cause it to be discharged in adesirable manner through the outlet of the container.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, another embodiment of the invention is illustratedincluding a container having a cylindrical sidewall 240, top and bottomwalls 242 and 243 seamed into engagement with the opposite ends of the.cylindrical sidewall to define the external container. A

propellant means contained in bag 244 is secured in the container withits mouth portion clamped between the seamed portions 246 of the bottomwall and the sidewall of the container. Bag 244 may be charged in anysuitable manner with propellant means; for example, one such mannerbeing described in connection with the FIG. 6 embodiment or with asuitable compressed gas of single or multiple ingredients. In addition,a dip tube or siphon 245 may be employed in this embodiment as with theother embodiments described above.

In accordance with another novel aspect of the present invention, a flowcontrol element 250 is provided in the container between the propellantbag 244 and the outlet 252 of the container to insure that thepropellant bag does not block off flow of product P at the outlet of thecontainer upon expansion of the bag. Flow control element 250 has agenerally annular shape defining a central passage 254 and with radialflow passages 256 leading from the external surface of element 250 intocentral space 254. Additionally, and although not shown, fiow controlelement 250 may have suitable radial ridges formed at circumferentiallyspaced locations on the top and bottom surface portions thereof tofurther facilitate flow of the product. In certain embodiments, the flowcontrol element may be free floating within the container; while inother embodiments, it may be positively secured to the container. Itwill be seen that not only does flow control element 250 preventblockage of outlet 252 by the bag while facilitating the fiow of productthrough the container, but also the flow control element prevents thebag from engaging any sharp edges which might appear on internal surfaceportions of the container.

FIGS. l1, 12, 13 and 14 illustrate various container shapes andconstructions which may be employed in carrying out the various aspectsof the present invention. The containers shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. areformed with top and bottom walls or panels 260, 262 which may be concaveor convex and seamed to the opposite ends of sidewalls 264, 265. In FIG.11 embodiment, sidewall 264 has a cylindrical shape whereas in FIG. 12embodiment, sidewall 265 has a concave longitudinal-section, asillustrated.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, top portions 270 and bottom portions271 of the container are integral with sidewalls 272 of the containerand moreover the top wall portion 270 merges into the outlet 275 of thecontainer. The bottom portions of the sidewall 272 are crimped and bentinwardly so as to in effect form the bottom wall 271. In anotherembodiment (not shown) the bottom 271 may be bulging to the outside in aconvex form. In FIG. 14 embodiment, the container has a generally barrelshaped configuration as illustrated.

The embodiment disclosed in FIG. 15 may have a container and bag-likearrangement similar to that shown in FIG. 9, for example, as well as anyother disclosed herein. However, in accordance with another aspect ofthe present invention, the dip tube 280 extends from the bottom wall 282of the container to the top Wall 283 and moreover is inserted to theoutlet 284 of the container.

Referring now to \FIG. 16, there is illustrated a novel outlet 300 whichmay be employed in connection with any of the embodiments describedabove. This outlet 300 may be formed as a separate fixture or attachmentwhich may be attached to the container side wall, or may be formed as anintegral part of the top of the container by forming ridges across itsinterior surface extending from the periphery towards the center of thecontainer top. Outlet 300 may include a rigid body having an outletpassage 301 through which the product flows from the container and aninternal chamber formed by a hollow portion of the body below theoutlet. In the internal wall surfaces of the body are formed a pluralityof ridges 302 which lead to the outlet of the container for providingpassages in which the product may flow to the outlet of the container.When the outlet attachment is secured in a container and for example anassociated propellant bag expands into engagement with the inner surface205 of the outlet, ridges 300 will still provide open flow passagesallowing the product to be discharged from outlet aperture 301. Althoughthe specific embodiment disclosed in FIG. 16 employs ridges, it will beapparent that in other modifications, passages may be formed by drillingthrough the outlet body or by any other suitable arrangement which willprovide the desired open flow passages to the outlet.

In the FIG. 17 embodiment, the sidewalls 310 of the container are formedwith one or more longitudinally ex tending ridges 312 which provide flowpassages through which the product may reach the outlet 314 of thecontainer from any point along the interior surface of a container. Inthis way, when the associated propellant bag (not shown) expands uponrelease of the outlet valve (not shown) ridges 312 will still provideopen flow passages even though the bag is expanded against otherportions of the interior surface of the sidewall 310 of the container.

1 1 While certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have beendescribed with particularity, it will be understood that various othermodifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appendedhereto be limited to the description set forth herein but rather thatthe claims be construed as encompassing all equivalents of the presentinvention which are apparent to those skilled in the art to which theinvention pertains.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container or the like having a product to be dispensed therefromand an outlet and closure means through which the product is dispensed;means for forcing the product through the outlet means for dispensingcomprising in combination, means in the container defining first andsecond chambers in the container, means in said first chamber forgenerating pressure in said first chamber, means in said second chamberfor generating pressure in said second chamber when said chambers are incommunication with each other, said means defining said first and secondchambers including a positive disruptable seal means separating saidfirst and second chambers and being disruptable upon generation ofpressure in said first chamber for creating a sufiiceint pressuredifferential between the interior and exterior of the first chamber toplace both of said chambers in communication with each other to cause afurther and sequential generation of pressure in said second chamber.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generatingpressure in said first and second chambers includes chemical substancesand wherein the pressure generated is derived from gas generated by thereaction of the chemical substances.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 further including a delaying meansfor delaying the generation of pressure in said one chamber until afterthe container is assembled and sealed.

4. In a container or the like having a flowable product to be dispensedand an outlet and closure means through which the product is dispensed;means for forcing the product through the outlet means for dispensingcomprising in combination, means defining first and second chambers,means for generating pressure in said first and second chambers, andmeans for sequentially causing the generation of pressures in saidchambers, said one cham her is formed by a flexible bag located insidethe second chamber, said second chamber being formed by a largerflexible bag.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein the bags are arranged suchthat the larger chamber shares a part of its walls with the smallerchamber.

6. In a container having a flowable product to be dispensed and anoutlet and'closure means through which the product is dispensed; meansfor forcing the product through the outlet for dispensing comprising incombination, a sealed bag located in the container, rupturable partitionmeans in the bag dividing the bag into a number of compartments, firstchemical means in one of said I compartments for generating gas forincreasing the preswith each other, said partition means beingrupturable under sufficient pressure in said first compartment to placethe said compartments in communication with each other to furthergenerate gas pressure in the second compartment for dispensing thecontents.

7. The combination described in claim 6 wherein said partition meansincludes at least two spaced partitions dividing the bag into at leastthree overlying compart- 12 ments, one of the compartments havingchemical means for generating gas to increase the pressure in the saidcompartment to move radially outwardly the walls of the bag defining thesaid one compartment upon opening 1 the closure means and dispensing ofa portion of the product, said partition means being such as to ruptureand consequently place adjacent compartments into communication witheach other when the portion of the bag defining the compartments aremoved radially outwardly, other adjacent compartments containing secondchemical means for generating gas upon contact with the chemical meansin the said one compartment such that when the said remainingcompartments are brought into successive communication with the said onecompartment a gas will continue to be generated in a successive mannercorresponding to the communication with the remaining compartments andthe pressure replenished in said bag for the continued application ofpressure against the product for dispensing, said partition means beingof weaker bonding than the bag and therefore rupture under a lowerpressure than that required to rupture the bag.

8. The combination defined in claim 6 wherein the pressure of theproduct in the container around the bag and the pressure'generated bythe chemical substances in said first compartment are such that uponopening of the closure means of the container and discharging theproduct therethrough, the wall portion of the bag defining the firstcompartment will expand outwardly with such a force as to rupture thepartition means to thereby place the first and second compartments intocommunication with each other and allow the chemicals therein to reactand generate gas, said partition means being weaker there forerupturable under a lower pressure than the bag.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the second compartment hasopposite internal wall portions in sealing interengagement and beingseparable upon sufi'icient exertion of pressure in said firstcompartment to expose a portion at a time of the said second chemicalmeans to a portion of the first chemical means to further generate gaspressure for dispensing the contents.

10. In a container having a flowable product to be dispensed and anoutlet and closure means through which the product is dispensed; meansfor forcing the product through the outlet for dispensing comprising incombination, a. sealed bag located in the container and containing theflowable product to be dispensed, outlet means in the bag communicablewith the outlet and closure means of the container for dispensingcontents, disruptable sealing means urging an intermediate outer wallportion of the bag into engagement with the surrounding wall of thecontainer to define first and second chambers in the container outsideof the bag on opposite sides of said sealing means, respectively, gasgenerating means in one of said chambers for generating a gas toincrease the pressure in the container for depressing the bag todispense the product from the bag when the closure means of thecontainer is open, and means in the other chamber reactable with the gasgenerating means in said first chamber to further generate gas andreplenish the pressure in the container, said. first and second chambersbeing placed in communication to further generate gas when the pressurein the container is sufiicient to disrupt said sealmg means.

11. The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said sealing meansincludes an inert adhesive contacting the outer peripheral wall portionof the bag and the corresponding inner wall portion of the container.

12. In a container having a flowable product to be dispensed through anoutlet opening in the container controlled by a cap or closure, themethod of continuously generating gas pressure for purposes ofdispensing the product from the container, including the steps ofproducing a chemical reaction in one sealed compartment and acorresponding increase in' pressure in the container for dispensing aportion of the product and also for rupturing a closure of a secondcompartment in the container to communicate both compartments forcausing a chemical reaction in said second compartment between thechemical substances in both of said compartments to further generate gasin the container for dispensing the product, the closure seal of asecond compartment being of Weaker bonding than seals defining the bagand therefore rupture under a lower pressure than that required torupture the bag.

13. The combinations defined in claim 12 further including the step ofdelaying the pressure and gas generating reaction in said onecompartment for a predetermined period of time long enough to completelyassemble and seal the container.

14. The method defined in claim 13 wherein the means of the delaying ofthe chemical reaction is accomplished by excluding from the packagemeans necessary to bring about the gas generating reaction of thechemical means and introducing it into the package after it is assembledand sealed.

15. The method definedin claim 13 wherein the means of delaying thechemical reaction is initially inserted in the container during assemblyand is removed later by introducing pressure into the container after itis assembled and sealed.

16. The method defined in claim 13 further including the step ofemploying chemical reagent means for producing the chemical reactionwhich liberates gas for generating pressure for the discharging of theproduct, and wherein the step of delaying the chemical reaction includesemploying a chemical reagent which has an inert coating that after asuitable predetermined time dissociates from the chemical substancespresent in the surroundings to produce the said gas after the containeris assembled and sealed.

17. The method defined in claim 13 further including the step ofemploying a chemical reagent for producing the chemical reaction withother substances for liberating gas and providing pressure for expellingthe product from the container, and wherein the step of delaying thechemical reaction includes sealing the chemical reagent within asuitable thin glass ampule, and producing a pressure disturbance insidethe container which is enough to rupture said glass ampule and therebyexpose the chemical reagent for producing the chemical reaction.

18. The method defined in claim 13 further including the step ofemploying a chemical reagent for producing a chemical reaction withother chemical means for liberating gas and thereby providing pressurefor expelling the product, and wherein the method of delaying thechemical reaction includes the step of housing the chemical reagent in asmall container having an outlet including a plug closing said smallcontainer, and causing removal of the plug in the small container afterthe container is assembled thereby exposing the chemical reagent forproducing the chemical reaction.

19. The method defined in claim 13 including the step of employingchemical reagent means and a liquid medium for producing the chemicalreaction for liberating gas providing pressure for expelling theproduct, and wherein the method of delaying the chemical reactionincludes the temporary changing of the physical state of the liquidmedium, after the container is assembled and sealed, said medium changesto a liquid physical state and allows the chemical reaction to proceed.

20. The method defined in claim 13 including the step of employingchemical reagent means and a liquid medium for producing the chemicalreaction for liberating gas providing pressure for expelling theproduct, and wherein the method of delaying the chemical reactionincludes the temporary changing of the chemical state of said liquidmedium after the container is assembled and sealed to allow the chemicalreaction to proceed.

21. The method defined in claim 13 wherein the chemical reaction in onesealed compartment is delayed by partitioning said one sealedcompartment into at least two subscompartments, placing chemical reagentmeans in each of said subcompartments and With one of the saidcompartments being suitably inflated under at least one atmosphericpressure and purging the air out of the other subcompartment, relievingthe pressure in the container externally of said one compartment toproduce at least a partial vacuum externally of said one compartmentwhereby the pressure in said subcompartment will rupture thesubpartition therebetween and allow the chemical reagents to react witheach other to produce the chemical reaction for liberating a gas andproducing the pressure for expelling the product.

22. In a container or the like having a fiowable product to be dispensedand an outlet and closure means through which the product is dispensed;means for forcing the product through the outlet means for dispensingcomprising in combination, means defining first and sec ond chambers,means for generating pressure in said first and second chambers, andmeans for sequentially causing the generation of pressures in saidchambers, said means for generating pressure in one compartment includesWater, citric acid, sodium bicarbonate and wherein the means forgenerating pressure in the other compartment includes sodium bicarbonatefor reacting with the excess of citric acid present in the said onecompartment, and there is further included in the said one compartment adelaying agent preventing the chemical reagents in the said onecompartment from reacting to generate the gas and pressure until apredetermined time has elapsed after the container has been completelyassembled and sealed.

23. In a container or the like having a fiowable product to be dispensedand an outlet and closure means through which the product is dispensed;means for forcing the product through the outlet means for dispensingcomprising in combination, means defining first and second chambers,means for generating pressure in said first and second chambers, andmeans for sequentially causing the generation of pressures in saidchambers, said means defining said first and second chambers includes abag-like enclosure and a partition in said enclosure separating it intothe said chambers, and wherein the product to be dispensed is located inthe container about the enclosure.

24. In a container or the like having a fiowable product to be dispensedand an outlet and closure means through which the product is dispensed;means for forcing the product through the outlet means for dispensingcomprising in combination, means defining first and second chambers,means for generating pressure in said first and second chambers, andmeans for sequentially causing the genera tion of pressures in saidchambers, said means defining the first and second chambers includes abag-like enclosure and means placing part of the peripheral surface ofthe bag-like enclosure in sealing engagement with the inside Wallsurface of the container intermediate opposite ends of the container todefine said chambers externally of the bag-like enclosure on oppositesides of said sealing means, the product to be dispensed being locatedwithin the bag-like enclosure and wherein there is further provided anoutlet means in the bag communicable with the outlet and closure meansof the container for dispensing contents, a perforated dip tubeextending from the outlet means of the container inside the bag,respectively, gas generating means in one of said chambers forgenerating a gas to increase the pressure in the container fordepressing the bag to dispense the product from the bag, when theclosure means of the container is open, and means in the other chamberreactable with the gas generating means in said first chamber to furthergenerate gas and replenish the pressure in the container, said first andsecond chambers being placed in communication to further generate gasWhen the pressure on the bag-like enclosure is suflicient to disruptsaid sealing engagement.

25. A portable pressurized container defining a chamber for receiving aproduct to be dispensed from the container, an outletin a wall portionthereof for dispensing the product from the container, closure means inthe outlet for opening and closing the outlet, at flexible expandablebag-like enclosure located in the container and having a propellanttherein for expanding the bag to force the product out of the containerthrough the space between the container wall and the bag-like enclosureand then through the outlet of the container, flow control meansensuring passage of the product in the space between the container walland bag-like enclosure and out through the outlet for dispensingregardless of the position of the container and expansion of the bagagainst wall portions thereof including means defining an elongatedpassage extendingalong the internal wall portion of the containerbetween opposite end portions thereof and externally of the bag-likeenclosure, said elongated passage communicating with said space betweenthe container wall and the bag-like enclosure at several points alongthe container between said opposite end portions thereof, and a flowcontrol element located in the container between the baglike enclosureand the outlet adjacent to but externally of the outlet and having meansforming a plurality of radial passages for carrying the product to theoutlet for dispensing, said flow control element also serving as abarrier preventing expansion of the bag-like enclosure into theoutlet aswell as against portions of the container walls adjacent the outlet tothereby maintain constant communication between the'space between thebag-like enclosure and the container wall and the outlet of thecontainer.

26. The container defined in claim 25 wherein the outlet is in the topwall of the container, said container having a bottom wall opposite thetop wall and side walls extending therebetween, said bag-like enclosurehaving an upper closed end facing said top wall and having an open lowerend facing the bottom wall with portions of the open lower end fixed tothe container, inlet means in the bottom wall for introducing pressureinto the bag-like enclosure, and enclosure means in said inlet means inthe bottom wall for closing said inlet means in the bottom wall. afterpressure is introduced into the bag-like enclosure,

27. The container defined in claim 25 wherein said flow 3 and includesridge forming cavities extending across the interior surface of thecontainer top from the periphery towards the center of the container topwhere the container outlet is located. f

30. The combination defined 'in claim 16 including the step wherein saidfirst chamberis thecoating around the chemical reagentf References Cited7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,799,435 7/1957 Abplanalp 222402.1 2,815,15212/1957 Mills 222-3865 3,023,750 3/1962 Baron 222-3'86.5- X 3,178,0754/1965 Riedl et a1. -222386.5 3,235,137 2/1966 Bonduris 22238'6.5 X3,404,813 10/ 1968 Waxman 222-3865 1 3,430,731 3/1969 Satzinger222r-386.5 X

3,053,422 9/1962 Tenison et al. 222 399 3,115,280 12/1963 Battista 222F61 3,245,435 4/ 1966 Healy 222-399 X SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner1 Us, 01. X.R. 222,1, 402.1

